Pipe-wrench.



H. R. SINGLAIR & C. EKMAN.

PIPE WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2B, 1999.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

-EJE/nota UNTTED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

HARRY B. SINCLAIB AND C-ABL'EKMAN, OF-WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTSj SAD EKMAN ASSIGNOR 10 SAID SINCLAIR.

Hen-WRENCH;

Speccation of Letters Patent.

` Patented Ap1-.16,.1912.

Application led August 28, 1909. Serial No. 515,122.

nection with, the accompanying drawing, is' a speciicatiomlike characters on the draw-f ing,representinglikeparts. E

This invention relates lto pipe Wrenches of that type wherein the Ipipe is gripped by a strap orother exible member and which are commonly known to the trade as strap wrenches.

The objects of the invention are to provide a novel pipe wrench of thisclass: which necessitates the use of a minimum amount of strap material and which is simple and very inexpensive to manufacture.

As is Well known one end of the strap of a strap wrench is usually secured to the head ot the handle, While the other end is free therefrom. The most common wayof se curing),r the strap to the head has been to form the end of a strap into a loop and then secure the loop to a shackle, pin, Wedge, or other securing Aor anchoring device. Where the strap is thus formed into a loop, a considerable length of strap is used which is of no value so far as gripping or encircling the pipe is concerned, and as the'strap is the part of the Wrench which needs renewing more or less frequently, and as the cost of the strap depends upon its length, the Wrench which requires the shortest length of strap for a. given size of pipe has an advantage over other Wrenches which require a longer length,of strap.

Our improved Wrench not only uses a minimum length of strap for a given size of pipe, but it isralso so constructed that the strap can be readily removed therefrom or secured thereto ifvhenever a change of strap is necessary, and the means for securing the strap to the wrench are such as to obviate the possibilityr of improperly attaching the strap.

We will first. describe one embodiment of our invention and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

Figure 1 shows in perspective View a Wrench embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 3 shows the Wrench used in a diferent way from what usual in this class of devices.

is shown in Fi s. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is n view of the wedge for securing the end of the strap tothe Wrench.

The wrench comprises in its construction the handle 3 having formed at one end the head 4 which terminates in the nose 5,as The head is provided with two transverse passages or'4V throats G and 7. The throat 7 is wedge shapev and is adapted to receive an anchoring wedge 8 which is the means for anchor ing or securing one end of the strap 9 to the head.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention the haelt or rear wall 10 of the wedge-shaped Vthroat 7 is substantially perpendicularto the axis of the wrench handle, while the front wall 1Q thereof is inclined. The back Wall 10 has formed therein a groove 13 lwhich extends from one end to the other of said throat and is preferably situated centrally. and the wedge 8 is provided With the rib 14 adapted` to fit the groove 13. The front tai-e l5 of the wedge is roughened, preferablyY b v making it with serrations which run longitiulinally of the wedge or transversely to the length ot the strap.

ln securing thil strap to the handle, one end thereof is placed through the throat l' without doubling,r the strap on itself` and it is only necessary that the end of the strap should just project through the throat. The wedge 8 is then inserted, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the serrated face 15 in engagement with the strap and with the rib 14 `occupying the groove 13. The serrated face 15 affords a greater trictional engagement With the strap than exists between the rear v the throat, and as a result when strain is put on the strap, the wedge will be drawn down into the throat 7 thereby more tightly gripping the end ot the strap.

The wrench may be used in the usual Way by passing the strap around the pipe 16 to be turned and then passing the free end of the strap over the nose and through the throat 6, as seen in FigsA 1 and 2, or the said Wrench may be used h v passing the strap through the throat tirst then around the nose and pipe and bark` through the throat 6, as seen in Fig. 3.

lt will be noted that there is no extra. length of strap used at the end of the strap `which is seenred to the head and that the l and this is important because it insures that length which is made into a loop in those derives whieh neeessitale a loop in the strap is lherehy saved.

'l`he rih 14 and groove [3 serve to aeeuralely guide the wedge andprevent it from heeoining twisted in the' throat, and the wedge will,therefore, hear evenly on the surface of the strap and there will he no danger' that the wedge will heroine twisted so as to hear witlrgrealer pressure on one edge of the .strap than on the other.

In order to simplify the nianul'ar'ture of the wrenrh, we have made the handle with the weh 2U efvtending from one side edge to the other and have provided for the requisite stiffness hy forming: the flanges Qt around the edge of the weh. lVilh thisl constrnelion it is possible to readily east the handle in one piece and at the same time to use a minimum alnount of lnetal consistent with the proper stillness and strength. The rear wall ll) of the throat is formed by the flanges Ell whieh extend from the end of the wel 2li, while the front wall is formed hy one side of a har 25 which extends across from one side lo the other o f the head. The rih t4 not only serves to guide the wedge hut the end of the rib on the narrow edge of the wedge furnishes a surface against which a nail set, punch or other snitahle tool may he readily placed when it is desired to drive the wedge out of the slot. The form of wedge herein shown has still another advan tage in that it lualtes it impossible for any-- one to place the end of the strap improperly the throat i.

in lu order that the .strap lnay he seeurely held by the wede'e it is essential that said strap he situated iietween tho wedge and the face l2 of the throat 7, for il.' the `slr-.ip were placed against the face l() 0l' the` throat and the wedge were inserted hetween the .strap and the faire, l2, the p nll on the strap across the. end of the wedge would prevent it from being pulled down into the throat as lirinly as is possible where the strap is situated between the wedge and the fare l2. liy makin,"r the wedge with the rih lll, therefore, it is impossible. to place the strap on the wrong side of the wedge the strap will always be properly attached to the handle even by a person who is unfamiliar with the device.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure hy Letters' Patent is 1. A pi e wrench comprising a handle having a liead terminating in a nose and provided with two passages or throats, one of which is wedge shaped, a strap having one end extending once only through the wedge-shaped throat, and a -wedge fitting laid throat and having a serrated face to engage the strap, the other face of the wed e vengaging the wall of the throat and said fare and wall having eoperatin'g means to prevent the wedge from twisting.

2. pipe wrench comprising a handle having,r a head terminating in a nose and provided with two passages or throats, one of whieh is wedge-shaped and is provided with a groove Vextending from one end to the other thereof on the back side, a stra ha ving one end extending once only throu li said wedge-shaped throat, and a wedge tling the throat and provided with a serrated fai-e to engage the strap and having a rib on ils haelt side fitting said groove.

3. A pipe wrench comprising a handle having a head terminating in a nose and provided-with two passages ,or throats, one of whieh is edge-shaped, a strap having one end extending once only through the Wedgeshaped throat and lying against the wall thereof adjaeent the nose, and a wed e fitting said throat and having a, ser-rate( face to engage the 'stra i, the opposite face 0f the edgeengaging tie wall of the throat and said latter face and wallhaving one a depression and the othel a raised portion to lit .said depression.

in testimony whereof, we have signed our naines to this speeilieation, in the presence of two suhserihing witnesses.

HARRY R. SNULAR. ("ARL llKMAN. i t nesses llMnnsoN lV. liowiteu, infor M. lllnkows. 

